The Steps of Essence: How to Live Life Well and Authentically

by Hanns-Oskar Porr

"The Steps of Essence" are about your life's Quest to find and be yourself. They teach you to resolve your limitations, define what matters to you, and help you realize your dreams. You will learn to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0984106421
• ISBN13: 9780984106424
• Release Date: October 2009
• Publisher: Seinquest, Inc.
• Length: 258 Pages
• Weight: 0.77 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

NOT DULL AT ALL, BUT LIFE CHANGING

This book helped me change my life. It's quite remarkable. I don't think it's dull at all, like another reviewer said, but instead very engaging and insightful, especially the many helpful exercises. And that is really the key: you want to do the process. I did, and I learned so much about myself. The book showed me ways in which I limit myself and how to overcome them. I started to be more OK with myself. I found things that I feel passionate about. I now am actively working on these and for the first time in a long time feel a sense of purpose in my life again. Now, maybe this is not the easiest text in the world. But that one star review below is completely unjustified; apparently the person did not even read the text. I guess some people just want to be entertained all the time, but if you don't put in the work, how do you expect your life to change? This book presents a sound process and techniques that can invoke true change in your life. It did for me, and maybe it can do this for you as well. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Caterpillar's guide to becoming a butterfly

In The Steps of Essence: How to Live Life Well and Authentically, Hanns-Oskar Porr guides the reader through the process of creating the life she wants. Many peoples' lives follow the path of least resistance-- that is, doing what others expect them to do, succumbing to fatigue and cynicism, failing to follow their deepest desires. For Porr, an authentic life is a life actively guided and shaped by the character of the person living it. It is a life that defies inertia, embraces challenges, and seeks out experiences that hone consciousness. Most importantly, it is a life guided by the creative muse within each of us. The idea of using our creativity to craft a meaningful life sets this book apart from most other self-help books, which are so often written by non-artists. Although the author is conversant with transformational psychology, philosophy, and many of the world's religious traditions, he also looks at the human situation with an artist's eye. In his view, we can all learn to create, as long as we care passionately about that which we are engaged in creating. The book is divided into Steps in which he guides the reader through the stages of self-creation using both explanatory text and exercises. Drawing on some of the greatest minds that have ever reflected on the human condition-- including Jung, Aristotle, Emerson, Jesus, the Buddha, and the Taoist sages --he has put together a map for travelers setting out into the unknown territory of the interior psyche. The steps follow the stages of the "hero's journey," a myth common to many of Earth's cultures, both ancient and current. It is perhaps one of mankind's most potent story lines, because it portrays the individual's quest for meaning, transformation, and healing. In brief, the steps are as follows. First: being called to a higher purpose. Second: venturing into one's inner space to confront limitations, personal demons, and the roots of fear. Third: developing a Vision of what you want to grow into. Fourth: moving your focus back to your outer world, in order to integrate your Vision into the material realm. Fifth: becoming your life's architect--that is, using your creativity to draw the plans for your life. Sixth: learning adaptability, and how to live with change. Each of these steps contains numerous "homework" assignments, such as journal writing, thought experiments, or exercises using the creative imagination. The exercises are an integral to the book; the reader cannot internalize the content without doing them. They are the catalysts that promote the rearranging of patterns within the psyche, and although I have only worked the first several of them, I have had a couple of very powerful dreams as a result of the work. The appearance of the book is a bit unprepossessing. The cover art does not invite one in, and clip art appears scattered throughout the text (along with some truly helpful diagrams and small-scale black and white art reproducti

The Thinking Person's Guide to Self-Improvement

An incredibly dense, thoughtful, intelligent, and practical guide to becoming the person you want to be. Porr encourages people to engage actively in the process of living: to figure out one's own way within one's culture and to live it authentically. To do this, he uses a wide variety of psychological techniques, linguistic etymology, philosophical concepts (Heidegger and Aristotle, among many others), and practical and creative writing exercises. Throughout, Porr encourages his readers to ACT: to Accept the unchangeable parts of the past that have brought them to where they are, to Choose the path that will take them in the direction they truly want to go, and then to Take Action to actively engage that path. It's not an easy book. I've been keeping it by my bed with a journal and a pen, and one writing exercise a night is enough to keep me thinking all the next day. Recommended for any thoughtful and intelligent person ready to move on to being their own best self.

A worthwhile investment for spirituality and self-help readers

Before you can be true to others, you need to be true to yourself. "The Steps of Essence: How to Live Life Well & Authentically" is a self-help guide for those who want to attain better living by gaining a better understanding of oneself. Author Hanns-Oskar Porr encourages readers to learn to understand themselves and gain a greater understanding of life through themselves. Drawing on some metaphysical elements such as one's own personal essence and vision, he provides much sound advice for getting one's life on the track they truly want. "The Steps of Essence" is a worthwhile investment for spirituality and self-help readers.

An excellent guide for learning to be genuine with yourself

This is a well-thought out master-piece which provides excellent advice and useful exercises to help the reader get clear on the journey of his/her life. The author does a good job of explaining what his concepts mean as well as helping readers understand the difference between genuine identity and artificially constructed identity. The exercises provide a well-structured curriculum that the reader can work through at his/her pace. Most importantly doing the exercises will help you manifest genuine change in your life.